Improvement in bottle-fastenings



AT/M My 2 Patented Oct. .31, 1871.

yi fisf V Q/ UNITED STATES WILLIAM S. M. BEAL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOTTLE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,363, dated October 31, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. M. BEAL, of the city and county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looks for Bottles; and hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a sectional elevation of a bottle having my lock applied to it, and showing how it holds the cork in position. Fig. II is a vertical central section, showing that portion which holds the cork and the construction of the lock. Fig. III is a transverse section on line 00 .10 of Fig. II, showing the hinged joint in the ring which surrounds the neck of the bottle.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to that class of devices which is used for retaining corks in bottles and other vessels which have a bottle-shaped neck upon them; and it consists in a lock for that pur pose, the construction of which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In constructing locks for retaining corks in bottles which are filled with any substance which generates pressure within such bottles or vessels I use a ring, A, for encircling the neck of the vessel, said ring being formed in two or more parts, one of such parts being provided with a bifurcated end for receiving a tongue on the other portion in order that a hinged joint may be formed, so that the ring may be opened and thus placed around the neck of the vessel; this feature being clearly shown in Fig. III of the drawing. The opposite end of the circular portion of the ring is provided with a slot or recess, in which a spring is placed, as shown in Fig. II, this spring being for the purpose of engaging in any suitable manner with a shoulder formed in or upon the other portion of the ring, so that when the two portions are made to encircle the neck of a vessel and are pushed together and their loose ends made to meet each other, they shall be firmly locked together, and the ring cannot he slipped or pressed off on account of the enlargement upon the neck of the vessel; or, by lining the inside of the ring with some elastic substance it may be made to clasp the neck of a "essel which has no enlargement upon its outer end sufficiently tight to prevent it from being withdrawn or this may be effected without such lining by giving the proper shape to the neck, or by slightly roughening those in common use. To insure the retention of the cork in the vessel to which this look is applied a yoke, consisting of two bars, B B, and a connecting-bar, G, is attached to one of the portions of the ring. When the cork is in the vessel and the lock is in position these bars prevent the cork from being forced out, it pressing upon the under side of the cross-bar U, as shown in Fig. I. It is apparent, however, that, instead of these bars, a yoke curved at its upper end may be used, and that it will serve the same purpose. That portion of the ring which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. III has the tongue upon one of its ends for entering the bifurcated end of the other portion, and the recess or shoulder upon its opposite end for engaging with the spring. The aperture for the reception of the key is formed in that portion of the ring to which the locking-spring is attached.

The advantages of this device are that when in use it is certain in its action, may be easily transferred from one vessel to another, and cannot be removed except by some person who is in possession of the key for unlocking it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The herein -described bottle-lock, composed of a jointed ring, A, which contains a lock for fastening its sections together, and a yoke, B B G, rigidly connected to one of the sections of the jointed ring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. S. M. BEAL. Witnesses:

HENRY S. BEAL, SAMUEL J ORDEN. (1) 

